Relationship of Project Life Cycle to Phases of the Project Management Life Cycle

October 5, 2008 | Author: PM Hut | Filed under: Project Lifecycle Phases

Relationship of Project Life Cycle to Phases of the Project Management Life Cycle (#4 in the series PMI Project Life Cycle)
By Brian Denis Egan, B.Sc, M.Sc., M.B.A., PMP - Global Knowledge Course Director

This is where things can become confusing.

Each phase of the project management life cycle (such as Design or Code) can go through the entire project life cycle. In other words, each phase can be thought of as an independent project that has its own complete project life cycle.

Stages of the project life cycle, for the design phase of the project management life cycle, are illustrated below.

Design Phase - A Project Management Life Cycle Phase Example

Design Phase - A Project Management Life Cycle Phase Example

The design phase is essentially an independent project that produces a deliverable. This deliverable becomes an input to the coding phase, which in turn can go through the entire project life cycle.

Each phase of a project does not necessarily go through the entire project life cycle, but it can.

It is best to think of phases in the project management life cycle as independent little projects. What we originally thought of as a “project” would best be referred to as a program consisting of several phases that are actually sub-projects.

About the Author

Brian Denis Egan is CEO of a manufacturing company (Book Box Company) and a management consultant. He has written three professional development manuals and numerous white papers on aspects of management science. Since 2000, Brian has been a part-time instructor for Global Knowledge within the Management product line.

This article was originally published in Global Knowledge’s Business Brief e-newsletter. Global Knowledge delivers comprehensive hands-on project management, business process, and professional skills training. Visit our online Knowledge Center at www.globalknowledge.com/business for free white papers, webinars, and more.

© Copyright 2008, Global Knowledge. All rights reserved.

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